NWPM_2010_Retreat_Rural_Sites_Network

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NWPM Rural Sites Network

Tuesday, Session 4: 3:00 - 4:30
Room 131 (Lab)

Facilitated by:
  • Elaine Hunyadi, SBWP
  • Ellen Brinkley, TCWP

Attended by:
  • Amber White (Saginaw Bay WP)
  • Corey Harbaugh (Third Coast WP)
  • Deb LaLone (Crossroads WP)
  • Mark Smith (Upper Peninsula WP)

In what ways does your site successfully reach out to rural teachers and districts?


  • Spring, fall, and mini-workshops draw interest of both urban and rural teachers
  • SVSU Advisory Boards/Leadership teams consists of TCs from both urban and rural. Often assists w/SI recruitment balance.
  • Offering SB-CEUs at workshops to draw potentially new TCs of both rural and urban interest.
  • Circulating info about NWP to local ISDs and/or RESAs or NWP
  • NWP site leaders meeting in person w/ISDs and/or RESAs to talk about
  • Offering teacher leaders a “professional home”
  • Writing Retreats…encourage bringing a colleague
  • Writing Camps pique potential interest in NWPM and showcase the work we’re doing
  • Rural sites who are deliberate about finding key contacts to grow capacity and representation
  • We’re always aware of the challenges rural teachers face- isolated content area teachers, distance, ELL students, as well as some of the negative stereotypes associated w/”rural” life- but we continue to approach it from a positive perspective.
  • PD in rural areas
  • Hosted a Rural Sites Conference in 2009
  • Mini-grant work at SBWP to reach out to rural districts

In what ways does your site struggle in reaching out to rural teachers and districts?

  • Split sites (urban/rural). Building equity in urban/rural focus.
  • Writing Camps into rural areas.
  • Each rural/urban area is unique.
  • Distance. Many rural areas are more than hour away from the closest NWPM. i.e., UPWP has a vast area to cover.
  • The face of what’s rural in MI is different. For example, UP communication can be challenging due to distance, making collaboration, PD, etc. challenging.
  • Small pockets of resistance.

Ideas to Ponder
  • Idea of writing marathon as PD.
  • Include rural voices in the mix.
  • Small town readings to celebrate a sense of place. Reframes rural from being deficit to asset.
  • Hosting mini-marathons in rural/urban areas w/students. Influence of space and place.
  • Networking with other organizations to grow awareness NWPM and showcase our work.